Outlet-box.



E. J. DUSTMAN.

OUTLET BOX. APPLICATION FILED 13110.6, 1909.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. DUSTMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IOUTLE'IHBOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. DUSTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Outlet-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to outlet-boxes used in walls and partitions in electric lighting installations, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and economically constructed box in which the cables may be easily entered and reliably secured without injury, and adapted for service with the usual gas pipe outlet, and which may be installed without undue damage to the wall or partition, or to the gas pipe by bending or otherwise straining the latter.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and an rangement by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show an approved form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a View of the front face of the outlet-box alone, as adapted for service with a gas fixture. Fig. 2 is a corresponding side view. Fig. 3 is a View of the rear face. Fig. 4 is a top view. Fig. 5 is a transverse central section taken on the line 55 in Iiig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, the plane of section being indicated by the line 6-(3 in Fig. 1, showing the box in position in a wall and provided with an extension ring and canopy. Fig. 7 is a face view of the extension ring alone. Fig. 8 is a face view of the locking clamp. Fig. 9 is a corresponding edge view.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The box A is a circular casting in the form of a short cylinder having a deep ver tical groove A in the rear face, and a central opening A leading therefrom to the front. 011 each side of the central opening is a deep transverse recess A communicating with the peripheral exterior of the box through vertical passages A, one leading Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 6, 1909.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Serial No. 531,480.

upwardly from each recess and the other downwardly, on each side of the groove A and parallel therewith.

In applying the box to a wall or partition having a gas outlet B the plaster is cut away to admit the box and the latter inserted upon the gas pipe B which is received in and partially inclosed by the groove A and with the gas outlet B projecting through the central opening A thus avoiding any necessity for removing the plaster along the line of the gas pipe to admit the latter to the box and also avoiding strains due to flexing the pipe in such admission, and the leaks caused by such strains. The box is held in place by screws extending through slots at a in the rear wall of the box, and these slots are so located and spaced as to coincide with the usual holes in the lugs B formed on the elbow or T-connection B of the gas pipe, the screws thus inserted serving to hold both the box and pipe in position.

The cables D in the wall or partition are received in the vertical passages A which are of a diameter to admit their armored covering. The insulated wires inclosed therein extend through the reduced openings at between such passages and the recesses A and are easily bent forward in such recesses without strain on the cables. The positions of the passages A? permit the cables D to enter the box without bending on short radii, thus greatly facilitating their introduction.

To afford the depth required in reaching through the lath and plaster of the wall, an extension ring E of the same diameter as the box and having internal lugs E is secured to the outer or front face of the box by screws Fl extending through the lugs and engaged in holes a in the box. This ring projects beyond the surface of the wall and is inclosed by the rim or flange of an ornamental canopy J within which are the wires and the usual insulating joint F attached to the gas outlet B serving to prevent contact of the wires with metal portions of the gas conduits. Angular spurs or lugs A on the margin of the central opening A receive screws H by which the box is anchored on the gas outlet.

Instead of pinching screws usually employed for the purpose, the cables are held in the passages A" by yohes or clamps G lying in notches a in the rear face of the box and having screw-threaded legs G extending through the latter to the front where they receive nuts G by which the curved inner faces of the clamps may be drawn into close contact with the armor and thus hold the cables reliably gripped between the clamps and the opposite inner faces of the passages A without danger of piercing the armor and insulation of the cables.

In order to provide space for the clamps the walls of the passages A are continued beyond the circular boundary of the box, as at A, and the notches a are each cut at an angle therein so that the projections A may be confined as nearly as possible to the general circular contour of the box.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions as found necessary or de sirable in conditioning the box for service in various situations to which it may be adapted.

I claim 1. An outlet box formed with a vertical groove in its rear face and having vertical passages for the reception of electric cables, and transverse recesses in the front face of the box between and communicating with said passages for the reception of wires from said cables.

2. An outlet box formed with a vertical groove in its rear face and having vertical passages therein for the reception of electric cables, and transverse recesses in the front face of the box between and communicating with said passages for the reception of wires from said cables, and centrally located means in said box for holding an insulating joint.

3. An outlet box formed with a vertical groove in its rear face and having vertical passages therein for the reception of electric cables, and transversely arranged recesses in the front face of the box between said passages for the reception of wires from said cables, and orifices of smaller diameter than said cables communicating between said passages and recesses.

a. An outlet box having a vertical groove in the rear face, constructed partially to inclose a gas pipe, and a central opening from said groove to receive a gas outlet from said pipe, vertical passages parallel with said groove for the reception of electric cables, and transverse recesses in the front face for the reception of wires from said cables.

5. An outlet box having a vertical groove in the rear face, constructed partially to inclose a gas pipe, recesses on each side of said groove constructed to receive lugs on said pipe, a central opening from said groove to receive a gas outlet from said pipe, vertical passages parallel with said groove for the reception of electric cables, and transverse recesses in the front face for the reception of wires from said cables.

(3. A cylindrical outlet box having a vertical groove in its rear face constructed partially to inclose a gas pipe, a central opening from said groove to receive a gas outlet from said pipe, lugs on the margins of said opening and screws in said lugs for engaging said gas outlet, said box having vertical passages for the reception of electric cables, and transverse recesses in the front face for the reception of wires from said cables, and an extension-ring removably secured to said box.

7. An outlet box having passages therein for the reception of electric cables and having a notch in the rear wall of each of said passages, a clamp for each passage lying transversely of the latter in said notch and constructed to grasp such cable, a screwthreaded leg 011 said clamp extending through said box, and a nut on said leg engaged with the front face of said box.

8. An outlet box comprising a body having side and rear walls, said side walls being apertured for the reception of electric cables, the rear wall provided with a central longitudinal groove for the reception of a pipe, said groove opening into the interior of the box through an aperture in the center of the rear wall and an inwardly extending hub surrounding said aperture.

9. An outlet box comprising a body having its rear wall provided with an opening for a gas outlet and a longitudinal groove at an angle thereto for the reception of a pipe and means about said opening carrying securing means for afiixing the outlet box to a pipe.

10. An outlet box comprising a body having its rear wall provided with an opening for a gas outlet and a longitudinal groove at an angle thereto for the reception of a pipe and means about said opening carrying securing means for affixing the outlet box to a pipe, said body having an aperture for the reception of an electric cable.

11. An outlet box comprising a body having its rear wall provided with an opening and means about said opening for aflixing the box to a gas outlet, a groove to receive a pipe, said groove opening into the interior of the box through said rear wall and communicating with said opening, and an extension ring on said box.

12. An outlet box comprising a body having side and rear walls, the rear wall provided with a central longitudinal groove In testimony that I claim the invention for the reception of a pipe, said groove above set forth IaffiX my signature, in presopening into the interior of the box through ence of two witnesses.

an aperture in the center of the rear wall, EDWVARD J. DUSTMAN. and inwardly extending means surrounding lVitnesses:

said aperture and provided with means for CHARLES R. SEARLE,

aflixing said box to a gas pipe. F. J. GREENE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. G. 

